For
several seasons, Trojan fans as well as
national pundits have fallen on their swords
in anticipating USC's re-emergence as a
player in the national title hunt. A good
sign emerged in a late season five game
conference-winning streak. However, it can't
be denied that the balance of power in the
Pac Ten has shifted to the north and is
not likely to return to California soon.
Will the Trojans under Pete Carroll's approach
ever be a factor in this high scoring conference?
The short answer is that Carson Palmer must
finally step up to his potential - he has
shown glimpses - and the team must get consistent
running production from McCullough, Fargas,
and Byrd. Last year's defense was good and
at times dominating. But in a conference
known for high scoring shoot outs and superior
big game quarterback play, the Trojans will
remain a second tier Pac Ten team if the
can not score via a combination of consistent
passing and a revitalized running attack.
Once again in 2002, there is sufficient
talent for a top 20 finish, but many have
been in error saying that about USC for
half a decade. A brutal gauntlet of Auburn,
Colorado, Kansas State, and Oregon State
to begin the fall campaign will severely
test the familiar offense and retooled defense
early on.

STRENGTHS:
Carson Palmer has shown signs of field generalship
and significant improvement at quarterback. He
is hoping to reach the full potential trumpeted
by Trojan fans when he first arrived. USC proved
at times they could move the ball via the pass
very effectively against some good defenses. Speedster
Kareem Kelly heads a deep but young receiving
corps. The running game seems ready to improve
with the arrival of heralded hometown transfer
Justin Fargas back from Michigan. Blazing speedster
Sultan McCullough, who ran for nearly 1200 yards
as a sophomore, returns from an injury marred
junior season. The offensive line returns four
to five starters and is experienced. There is
excellent line depth and the feeling is the line
will get with healthy tailbacks and a good passing
mix. Magical offensive coordinator Norm Chow has
had a year to acquaint himself with the personnel
and big things may occur if the running game returns
to respectability.

CONCERNS:
For better or worse, this is the culmination of
the "Carson Palmer era" at USC. With
all the right computer specs available to NFL
scouts, Palmer has only shown glimpses of those
initial quarterback intangibles. His play will
remain the focal point of a recently non-kind
offense. Last year, USC's heralded "student
body right" running attack morphed into "student
body light". Proud SC ranked a miserable
109th in the nation in rushing. The running game
generated over 150 yards in only two games, their
ineptitude punctuated by a rushing total of exactly
one yard against the trouble defense of the Utah
Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl. Help may be on the
way in terms of Michigan transfer Justin Fargas.
However, Fargas was unspectacular in Ann Arbor
and suffered a broken leg which required a years
rehab and found him so low on the depth chart,
that he ended up playing safety his last season
there. A healed Sultan McCullough is still the
likely choice at tailback.

SOUTHERN
CAL 2002 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in Bold

OFFENSE

QB

Carson
Palmer-Sr

Matt
Cassel-So

FB

Chad
Pierson-Sr

Sunny
Byrd-Sr

TB

Sultan
McCullough-Sr

Justin
Fargas-Sr

WR

Kareem
Kelly-Sr

D.
Hale-Jr

WR

Keary
Colbert-Jr

Grant
Mattos-Sr

TE

Alex
Holmes-Jr

Gregg
Guenther Jr.-So

OT

Jacob
Rogers-Jr

Nate
Steinbacher-Jr

OG

Lenny
Vandermade-Jr

Joe
McGuire-So

C

Norm
Katnik-Jr

Derek
Graf-Sr

OG

Zach
Wilson-Sr

Travis
Watkins-So

OT

Eric
Torres-Jr

Phillip
Eaves-Sr

K

David
Davis-Sr

..

2002
DEFENSE

written
by Bill Canter

STRENGTHS:
The Pac Ten's leading scoring defense, which also
scored eight touchdowns, returns five capable
starters. Last year's rugged outfit was kept busy
due to the anemic running attack, but performed
well throughout the season. The Trojans were noticeably
more aggressive and physical on defense. Two outstanding
sophomores, Shaun Cody and Kenechi Udeze, anchor
the line. Two starters return at linebacker, which
was a stellar unit in 2001 and quality depth still
remains. One starter returns in the secondary,
but he is All American Troy Polamalu. The cornerback
position must develop fast if USC is to approach
its fine defensive showing of last season. Look
for special teams star Kevin Arber to emerge from
among a talented young group.

CONCERNS:
Six starters have departed from a fine 2001 defensive
unit, including two excellent cornerbacks. Can
six new starters step in and match the aggressiveness
and opportunistic motivations of last fall's defense?
In a passing conference, solid cornerback play
and a consistent pass rush will be vital. In short,
this year's less experienced unit will be hard
pressed to match the outstanding effort of a year
ago. Although a better suited running game will
help keep them off the field. The defense will
be pushed to improve rather quickly through mid-season
with a brutally challenging four game opening
sequence against four potential top 25 teams.

SOUTHERN
CAL 2002 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters in Bold

DEFENSE

DE

Omar
Nazel-Jr

Austin
Jackson-Fr

NT

Bernard
Riley-Sr

Mike
Patterson-So

DT

Shaun
Cody-So

Anthony
Daye-Sr

DE

Kenechi
Udeze-So

A.J.
Single-So

SLB

Matt
Grootegoed-So

Chris
Prosser-Jr

MLB

Mike
Pollard-Sr

Lee
Webb-So

WLB

Melvin
Simmons-Jr

Aaron
Graham-Sr

CB

Kevin
Arber-Sr

Miguel
Fletcher-Sr

CB

Darrell
Rideaux-Sr

Marcell
Allmond-Jr

SS

Troy
Polamalu-Sr

Jason
Leach-So

FS

DeShaun
Hill-Sr

Kyle
Matthews-So

P

Tom
Malone-Fr

Zach
Sherwood-So

..

One
starter returns in the secondary, he is All American
Troy Polamalu. - (AP Photo)